[We have already reached the 15th stem and the 35th floor.]

“Could this really be the end?"

The legion surged forward at a breakneck pace. Naturally, they hadn't seized control of every single floor. Their strategy was to continually dispatch scouts to ascend higher and higher. This would continue until either a force capable of comprehending and thwarting our actions emerged, or we stumbled upon something out of the ordinary first.

“No way."

[The legion has discovered an anomaly.]

And when they arrived there.

The legion stopped scouting.

They had found something unusual.

“What is this? Traces of civilization?!"

[We can't know for sure yet. The legion has split its forces in half. Half will keep devouring and conquering the floors we've occupied. The other half will head upwards as fast as possible to scout and collect samples.]

“Architecture?!" I couldn't comprehend what was being said. I rubbed my eyes and cleaned the phone screen, but nothing changed. The scouts, shaped like a small swarm, continued their surveillance of the area.

The 35th floor was a massive cavern. The only difference from the other vegetation-filled caverns was the absence of any living beings. This place was filled with relics, statuesj and structures that could never form naturally.

I sighed at the sight of a half-crumbled statue lying on the ground, visible on the screen. Despite being half-destroyed, the facial features were still discernible. Two eyes, a nose, a mouth-it was indistinguishable from a human.

“lust what is this?"

[What you don't know, the legion certainly doesn't know either. But the legion's history has always begun by analyzing the unknown. At least they can grasp that these statues represented something.]

Goblins and orcs, too, had eyes, noses, and mouths. I found myself deep in thought, separate from the legion. No matter how I pondered, these appeared to be remnants of a civilization. Could they be ancient ruins, like those in movies? If so, where were the beings that created them? If they still existed somewhere, they must be connected to the guardians. But who could they be? What kind of people would construct relics like these in a cave?

[The scouts have begun to meticulously search every corner. Compared to the natural environments we've encountered so far, the legion has concluded that these structures were intentionally crafted by someone, similar to our nests.]

The investigation proceeded, and we were able to glimpse the interior of the colossal ruins. I was left speechless. The entire cavern was a relic, filled with countless rooms and structures that resembled altars. Moreover, the passage leading upwards was situated right in the heart of these ruins.

“...A hole?"

The scout looked up.

A huge cylindrical passage was pierced through the ceiling.

Complicated patterns with incomprehensible meaning were engraved around it.

[Whether or not we know what this place is, it's certainly a fork in the road worth making our base. Having judged so, the legion mobilized its forces. First they planned to occupy this place and use it as a midway base.]

The legion's main force marched unswervingly along the previously scouted path. No longer did other organisms obstruct our progress. As long as we diligently investigated every minor detour for anomalies, they would likely remain undisturbed.

[The 34th floor is directly beneath the 35th, where the remains were discovered. This is where the moth was.]

A versatile unit of the legion, which had nearly reached this point earlier, made a discovery. They brushed the floor with their hands, revealing something white and shimmering. It was the powder from the moth we had previously encountered.

[The presence of a gatekeeper suggests there is something valuable being guarded beyond.]The legion resumed its march, finally setting foot on the troublesome 35th floor.

[Could it be a trap?]

Suddenly, an unexpected event occurred.

“What is this?!"

[The legion is still analyzing it.]

The entire ruins trembled.

Strange patterns etched in various locations began to glow.

I was taken aback, but the legion units remained unfazed.

“What on earth is that..."

[Ah, this could be beneficial. At present, we only have living organisms at our disposal. We theorized that if we disassembled and consumed these unknown entities, we might uncover some clues.]

With a grating noise, pale limbs erupted from the ruin walls.

Their skin was extremely smooth and pale, bodies slender, eyes glittering.

These pale beings, their bodies adorned with bizarre patterns akin to tattoos, were awakening one by one, displaying hostility towards the legion units.

“There's no way they're units...considering they're reviving."

I bit my lip.

Their overall appearance was strikingly human.

It was even possible to differentiate between males and females based on hair length and the presence of genitalia.

They certainly didn't resemble mere beasts or monsters.

[It had been some time since we encountered an adversary who utilized tools. The legion, intrigued, naturally engaged them.]

As the figures approached, armed with worn swords, spears, and various other weapons, the legion units instinctively lowered their bodies in preparation. We had no reason to retreat.

“! !"

lust before the clash, they released roars akin to wild beasts. The patterns and eyes on their bodies flashed brilliantly.

The collision that followed was surprising. Despite their pale, slender bodies, these beings somehow held the upper hand in strength.

*

“Anyway... we're still going to school, huh."

“Most importantly, the other students are still oblivious. They have no idea how serious the situation is."

Yoon Ah muttered these words, her gaze scanning the unsettled atmosphere of the school. It was the same school she and Do Yeon attended, the one that had been attacked by goblins. Today, they had resumed attending, but the mood was far from academic. Flowers adorned various desks, and over half the teachers were absent. The families of the missing students were in denial, opposing even the idea of holding funerals.“Do you think they can be rescued?"

“It's hard to say. If I were in their shoes, imagining being dragged away by those monsters... I don't think I could last a single day."

Yoon Ah shook her head, grimacing at the thought. Do Yeon, who had initiated the conversation, shared the sentiment. Despite her tough exterior, she knew she would crumble in such a situation faster than anyone else.

“We'll never experience something like that. We'll survive till the end."

Yoon Ah firmly grasped her hand.

“You're saying that to me?"

“W-well... anyway! As long as we stick together, our Cheongsan clan can carry us through!"

At her snort, a flustered Yoon Ah pulled out her phone. Do Yeon watched with interest. At first glance, it could be mistaken for a movie or drama, but the people appearing on Yoon Ah's phone were all real.

“lust what are those people's abilities?"

“They have something called racial traits. It's a kind of innate ability. In our Cheongsan clan's case, the ancestral shamanism from the original tribe developed extremely, allowing us to communicate directly with earth and wind spirits."

Whether it was guilt or trust, Yoon Ah would answer smoothly when asked. Of course, Do Yeon had no plans to betray Yoon Ah. She only planned to remember that information and relay it in full to those who were truly her allies.

“Anyway, our clan is competent and smart. We've already unified the surrounding clans, and all that's left is to expand, they said."

“...You don't plan to move separately?"

“Eek."

Yoon Ah gave a surreptitious nod. Cha Ji Yeon, who had openly declared herself as a unit, continued to interact and collaborate with other players. Yoon Ah and Do Yeon were also part of the organization, but their involvement was less active.

“My parents wouldn't allow me."

“Indeed. The fear of indiscriminate killing is real. And if you become a target for no apparent reason, what then?"

“It's a bit disheartening. But the items that Ms. Cha Ji Yeon provides, if I could distribute them among our tribe, I'm sure it would be beneficial."

“I see...that's an interesting approach."

Suddenly, Do Yeon, having gained a new perspective, remembered the units her brother had been nurturing.

fThey didn't seem...human.'

Despite their mutual wariness, she had picked up on certain things. From these, Do Yeon deduced that her brother's units were decidedly not human.

“It seems like it'll take more time to properly conduct classes."

“Yeah. Today was mostly self-study anyway."

“See you."

With classes ending earlier than usual, Yoon Ah and Do Yeon said their goodbyes at the front gate. Yoon Ah left in the car her mother had come to pick her up in. Their homes were in completely opposite directions, and she declined carpooling because she felt guilty about her mother, who apologized every time she forced her daughter into the car.

As she watched the car drive away, she slowly walked down the street.

fI don't know if this is good or bad.'

She let out a small sigh. She had been forcefully pulled into this situation, but now it seemed better this way. If she had been oblivious to the truth, she wouldn't have understood Shin Woo's solitary struggle.

“Mm...? Agh!"

However, just as she was about to reach home, she felt a searing pain in her wrist and grabbed it, her face contorted in agony.